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Herald Correspondent
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has, in the past two months, been mediating a conflict between three families over the ownership and use of the Mainzo Wetlands.
The wetlands are on an estimated 180 hectares, striding over Wards 22 and 24 of Buhera South, about 100km south-east of the district’s administrative centre.
Lying in agro-ecological Region IV under Chief Nyashanu, the wetlands are a rare phenomenon providing the much sought-after irrigation water in a generally dry and low rainfall region.
A conflict spanning over five decades has seen families at loggerheads with each other and the dispute has spilled into courts, but with no respite in sight.
Chief Nyashanu’s court, the Magistrates Court and the High Court have all given judgments on the matter, but tensions, animosity and hatred have remained, causing distress, anger and anguish to the parties and neighbours.
In line with its constitutional mandate to mediate and conciliate disputes, the NPRC was invited at the behest of the Office of the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province to work towards creating harmony between the parties.
Aware that the High Court had already pronounced itself on the issue of ownership of the area around the wetlands, the Commission thus sought to come up with strategies to ensure peaceful co-existence and mutual respect among the parties.
A week-long fact-finding team led by the NPRC’s general manager for conflict prevention, Mr Joseph Mashingaidze, met with provincial and district authorities, Chief Nyashanu, the Gotora, Muzerengwa and Mhuruyengwe families from May 22 to 28.
This paved way for the Commission’s Dispute Resolution Unit led by the Acting Chairperson, Commissioner Reverend Dr Chiropafadzo Moyo, supported by Commissioner Dr Golden Chekenyere and Commissioner Lillian Chigwedere, to travel to Chief Nyashanu’s Court to mediate the dispute.
The Commission’s Dispute Resolution Unit held a day-long engagement between Chief Nyashanu and the Muzerengwa family on August 1.
The Muzerengwa family had undermined the Office of the Chief on several occasions but apologised to the Chief.
Chief Nyashanu accepted the apology and August 2, representatives from the Gotora and Muzerengwa families were invited to Chief Nyashanu’s Court where the Commission mediated the long-running dispute.
Parties were offered the opportunity to share their sides of the story and propose avenues for lasting peace, unity and reconciliation. Both Chief Nyashanu, Rev Dr Moyo and the two Commissioners supporting her, reiterated the importance of unity and urged the parties to desist from fights, enmity, destruction of crops and harming livestock.
They also urged that parties to forgive each other, respect Government authorities and allow for planned developmental projects on the arable sections of the wetlands to be initiated for the benefit of the community.
After the successful mediation trip to Buhera District, Rev Dr Moyo briefed the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Nokuthula Matsikenyere, for further management and consolidation of peace in the area.
The NPRC plans to continue working with local level stakeholders, including the District Development Coordinator, to follow up on programmes to guarantee non-recurrence of conflicts that have affected the cohesion of the affected families for a long time.
Online Reporter